I need to know career wise, mom wise and wife wise which is better to do? Is it better to get your LPN, work a year or so and then become an RN later? Or is it better to just get your RN? I know RN's have more areas to work in and I do NOT plan to work in a nursing home. I only ask this because my program here to get your RN is going to take about 3 years to complete and the LPN only takes about 1 1/2-2 years. I thought about the LPN just because I am a SAHM and I figured I could be done sooner with the LPN and start working. But at the same time I would only be going 1 year more for the RN. Then I also think what if I would rather be an LPN. I'd like to work in a doctor's office, but we all know that those offices are harder than you know what to get into. My ultimate goal was to be a NP but I don't know if I can do that since by 2015 it is going to be required to get your doctorate in NP and no more master's programs will be offered.
Just want some suggestions and thoughts. Thanks!
P.S.
I have 3 children ages 4, 2 and 11 months. They do very well for the most part.
I won't give you my opinion on which to do (since I already have) but the requirement for having a doctorate to be a NP after 2015 is only a recommendation by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses not a hard and fast rule. Few schools even offer a DNP right now. I wouldn't make a decision based on what you think you are going to do several degrees from now, think of what you want to be doing in the next few years.
Get the RN. My hospital doesn't even hire LPNs anymore because our goal is to have 80% of RNs to have a BSN (not even an ADN). And, if you really want DNP, I believe schools will have programs for BSN to DNP.
For so many reasons I would recommend going straight for the RN. (I don't have time right now to type them all out, sorry.)
Become an RN
This is your best bet -- now just do it.
The very best to you and your children.
Do you have your pre requisites for RN school yet? There are usually quite a few, A & P 1 and 2, English, math, chemistry or 1 other science, usually a social science too. Both the math and English at my school are higher level - college algebra and composition and rhetoric. Also it is very competitive to get in, so you will need A's and B's.
That is the main advantage of LPN school - no pre requisites, you can dive right in, and do you RN pre reqs (coz you still need them, even if you graduate as an LPN)
Didn't you already get accepted in the nursing school?
I feel like you have asked this question a thousand times already but maybe a thousand and one will get you the answer you are looking for. I am an RN and have been for 9 years. I have seen several LPNs struggling to find places to work because many hospitals are not hiring them any more. My advice would be to take the extra time and get your RN. You say you dont want to work in a nursing home but those are about the only places who will still hire an LPN. Once you add working to your already busy life with 3 children, it will be harded to go back to school.
